Carnivore Says Vegan Company Violated Her Rights

The company is Matt & Nat, based in Montreal; they specialize in vegan handbags and accessories. The founder, Inder Bedi, is vegan and all of the products they produce are vegan; therefore, Bedi feels it would be inappropriate to have meat at the company.

Employees cannot bring meat into work nor can they eat meat at restaurants if they are representing the company. Job applicants are informed of the no meat policy during their interviews.

A former employee of the company, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the CBC she felt her “rights as a carnivore” were violated, and that in a free country people should eat what they like. She described sneaking meat into the offices in her purse to avoid anyone noticing. The thought of going a whole eight hour shift without eating flesh was simply unthinkable!

The company has 18 employees, most of whom aren’t vegetarian or vegan, but Bedi says he’s never had another complaint about their policy.

A spokesperson for the Quebec Human Rights Commission said they had not received an official complaint about this situation, but it if they did, it was unlikely this would qualify as a discriminatory policy.

The use of phrases like “my rights as a carnivore” is a semantic clue to how we view animals and their lives. In western society, the general culture is so hostile to the idea of animal rights that we take the exact opposite view: not only do animals not have the right to live, but we have the intrinsic and inalienable right to kill them for food.

Animal rights activist Karl Buechner summed up this mentality perfectly when he said, “You’re entitled to your own freedom, not to take others’ away”. No matter how you try to justify it or color the debate, meat is the flesh of a murdered animal. You have no more intrinsic right to eat meat than you have to commit arson, theft or murder.

If the idea of an inherent right to eat meat seems ludicrous to you, and if you support the right of animals to live without being killed for human consumption, then make a meaningful change and go vegan. A vegan diet is the most fundamental step you can make to help alleviate the suffering of animals.

Be an informed activist.

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608 comments

First of all she is NOT a "carnivore" she is an"omnivore".She knew what the rules were before she went to work there. If she didn't think she could handle it she shouldn't have taken the job. If a place has a "no smoking" sign you don't smoke the same applies!!

@Adam G - you are not top of the food chain, you are a low life. It's hilarious how all the Neanderthals like you love to take credit for all of humanity's achievements. Only a precious few have actually advanced our civilization and clearly if it were up left up to people like you we would still be in the dark ages. Nice photo by the way- put a shirt on your creeping me out.

"You have no more intrinsic right to eat meat than you have to commit arson, theft or murder" ROFLMAO!!!

the fact that humans ARE THE TOP of the food chain, ie. we are the top predator on earth because we evolved to be so, absolutely DOES give us the right to eat meat, just the same as a lion or tiger has every right to eat the meat of it's prey.

if someone chooses to deny their humanness by becoming vegan/vegetarian, that is their choice. but that does not give them the right to force their opinions (and let's face it, their "beliefs" are just that, nothing more) onto people who choose to embrace the fact that they are human.

it's such a shame that some vegan people choose to be just as arrogant & ignorant as religious fundies.

geez, people will do anything for attention and news coverage these days....should they have posted a sign during the interview, for her convenience? "Warning: coffee is hot. Also, you cannot bring meat into a vegan company building."

Stephan, you SAID IT, Buddy! The previous comment from yours was a completely off-topic sermon, bordering on a rant. Yup, I can see the similarity (institutions). BTW, have a sip for me, I'm OUT, and after reading that commentary, I sincerely need one! :)

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